Quick Hits

Simensky moves across the dial to PBS

Children’s programming veteran Linda Simensky has left her post as senior VP of original animation at Atlanta, Georgia- based Cartoon Network to tackle the position of senior director of children’s programming for non-profit PBS out of Alexandria, Virginia. Simensky says it was the change in perspective brought on by having a three-year-old son combined with the desire to try something different that prompted the move. ‘I spent a lot of time watching PBS with him, and suddenly I had a very different take on TV,’ she says.

Simensky began her career with a nine-year stint at Nickelodeon, before moving to Cartoon Network, where she was instrumental in bringing shows like Dexter’s Laboratory and Samurai Jack to the small screen. While it’s early yet to say if this marks a shift in strategy at PBS, Simensky says the net will be focusing on attracting the six to eight demo. ‘They’ve nailed the educational part at PBS, and I think they’re just looking to see what I can bring that sort of fills in the gaps.’

Top dogs team up in brand development company

A newly formed property incubator has appointed a handful of top execs to develop and market all aspects of kids entertainment properties in their specialized areas, all the way from original concept to consumer product tie-ins.

Based in L.A., The Hatchery is the brainchild of Margaret Loesch, who was CEO of Crown Media U.S. and the Hallmark Channel, and the founding president of Fox Kids Networks; and Bruce Stein, formerly the president and COO of Mattel and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment. Stein says The Hatchery will have a ‘special appetite’ for smaller properties that have big potential if handled correctly. The company has already acquired a slate of properties, including CGI short film The Freak, and Benji Returns: Rags to Riches.

Marvel signs Maglione to expand its global appeal

Marvel Enterprises has pegged former Universal Studios exec Bruno Maglione, and his property-management talents, to head up its newly formed international division. Based in London, the division has been set up to take advantage of what Allen Lipson, Marvel’s CEO, calls the company’s largely untapped international growth potential.

Maglione spent the last five years as managing director and senior VP of Universal Studio’s Consumer Products Europe and MEA, and supervised the Euro licensing program for Universal’s Hulk.